Concerned about Remington.

[308 shooter]

Evidently I have run into a string of remarkable luck with the "recent" production 700s I have owned in the last dozen years:

1996 700VS .308
1997 700VLS .223
2004 700P .308
2005 700LTR .223
2007 700SPS Varmint .223

All have been exceptionally accurate for me. True , none came with a nice walnut stock and none had a polished blue with the exception of the VLS. But in regards to accuracy I am more than pleased.

Admittedly the out of the box triggers are not great. The best was on the newest of the group , the SPS Varmint. Regardless , I replace the triggers on all centerfire rifles, yeah even my Savage 12BVSS with Accu-Trigger was replaced with a Sharp Shooter Supply.

I guess if you call free floating a barrel major work then my 700VLS laminate required major work with a socket with sandpaper rolled around it. My 700LTR eventually proved to be the most accurate factory rifle I have ever fired. Yes , even outshooting my Savage , I know , I know , it can't be true - but it is.

The only other upgrading I performed was installing my SPS barreled action into a HS stock. If I ever bought a plastic stocked Savage it too would be installed in an upgraded stock.

SPS rifles have been shipped to retailers:
1) that wouldn't chamber a factory round because the chambers weren't complete cut
2) barrels stamped with the incorrect cartridge for the chamber that was cut
3) barrels out of square to the action more than ever

My newest 700 , the SPS Varmint does not exhibit any of the defects mentioned above. Most of what I read on the SPS Varmint/Tactical series has been very positive.

 

[tylerw02]

Can't argue with ya. I've got five Remington rifles, three of which I shoot factory bbls on and there are now complaints. The two newest, a 2006 and a 2007 VLS and SPS Varmint, they both shoot great, better than just about any Savage I've had much trigger time on. I guess if we're going to go off anecdotal evidence, I wouldn't own a Savage because 20% of the Savages I've messed with has problems.

Ford, Chevy, Dodge.....

ETA: Man, the prices on those Savages sure is shooting up, I'm getting worried about 'em

Nah, its too easy and cheap to not buy the SPS Varmints for $500 and stick 'em in a $200 H-S take-off or $90 Boyds.

 

[Jim D]

I had one of those SPS's that was'nt chambered right !
Lucky for me, it left a ring on the ogive of the rounds, and I caught it before firing it.
Sportsmans Warehouse, sent it back, and it was repaired.
They intalled a new bolt and trigger, as well as finished the chamber.
The head space is a lot looser than another SPS I have !
Both guns are in 17 Fireball.
As far as accuracy ? I've only sighted it in, with factory rounds, with a VX I, 3x9. Nothing to brag about.
I'm of the opinion, that Remington is going down hill !
Jim

 

[iceman99]

Evidently I have run into a string of remarkable luck with the "recent" production 700s I have owned in the last dozen years:

1996 700VS .308
1997 700VLS .223
2004 700P .308
2005 700LTR .223
2007 700SPS Varmint .223

QUOTE]
So, from one SPS purchase its clear to you Remington's quality is on par with the 70's and 80's?

You should have at least found the trigger in the 700P to have a different spring and not be able to be set below 2.5lbs...

If there were a new SPS on the shelf and a lightly used ADL/BDL from the 70's/80's for the same money I know which one I'd buy.

 

[308 shooter]

So, from one SPS purchase its clear to you Remington's quality is on par with the 70's and 80's?

Actually , I never mentioned anything about the 70s - 80s Remingtons. Also I had 4 other rifles listed in addition to the SPS? What I did say was "all have been exceptionally accurate for me" It seems some just can't accept the fact there are still shooters out there buying modern 700s and are pleased with their rifles and the level of performance provided.

You should have at least found the trigger in the 700P to have a different spring and not be able to be set below 2.5lbs...

Really does not really matter to me in any way since I dropped my Jewell trigger in it before heading out to the range. Don't want to hear how that would not be needed with a Savage since I had the trigger replaced in my Accu-Trigger 12BVSS too.

 

[Old Timer]

I may be repeating something that has ben stated allready, but I just got finished talking to my local gunsmith who is supposed to be rated in the top five in the country and he tells me that Remington went Bankrupt early this year and is now owned by some holding company.

 

[tylerw02]

I may be repeating something that has ben stated allready, but I just got finished talking to my local gunsmith who is supposed to be rated in the top five in the country and he tells me that Remington went Bankrupt early this year and is now owned by some holding company.

I don't think they went bankrupt, but they were sold to Cerebus, and investing company.

 

[iceman99]

SPS purchase

Hey 308 Shooter, my original post focused on the fact that quality has really dropped in the low end line - the SPS line. Rifles that sell for a few $100's more than SPS's seem to either be done by a different set of gunsmiths or get extra attention.

Its great that you're happy with the rifles you've purchased.

 

[tylerw02]

Hey 308 Shooter, my original post focused on the fact that quality has really dropped in the low end line - the SPS line. Rifles that sell for a few $100's more than SPS's seem to either be done by a different set of gunsmiths or get extra attention.

Its great that you're happy with the rifles you've purchased.

I've got a VLS and an SPS Varmint in .204 and the two things both shoot about the same. The SPS does have a slight bit more free-bore but it doesn't seem to mind. I also understand that the 700P rifle is the same rifle (off the same line) as the SPS Varmint, just stuffed into a different stock.

All I can say is I'm quite happy with the deal I got on my SPS-V.....$350 OTD with bases/rings. One of those guys read too many internet myths that said Remington SPSs won't shoot and had frustrations getting it to group....fact of the matter is he couldn't shoot and read too much.

Here was the last group I shot with it using ammo that was tuned for my VLS:

 

[Talon1959]

I was shooting next to a guy last weekend who had a Rem XR-100 in .204 and some hand loads. The wind was howling about 20+ mph. This guy shoots a something like a .220 inch 5 shot group with that bone stock XR. I guess I'm easily impressed, but I thought wow!

People say the same chit about Remmy 1100/1187s being junk. I have 12 of them from the early '70's to 2006 models and all of mine function fine. Guess I'm just lucky because my XR-100 .308 is a shooter as well.

I am sorry for the original poster and I hope things work out.

 

[keithcandler]

Remington Fired one of those poor support people...

Now it is much better.

All of the Remington Stainless barrels that I have now are the best factory barrels that I have ever had, and I have quite a few Custom barrels to compare them to.

I have worked on a couple of the Walmart Specials that I was not pleased with, but my stainles barrels are really very accurate and do not foul like the chrome moly barrels do.

STAINLESS barrels consist of:

22/250 sporter
243 sporters
25/06 sporters
270 24" sporter'
30/06 24" sporter
7 Mag sporters
7 Mag fluted
7 STW fluted Heavy barrels-set back and re-chambered

 

[tuck2]

Over the years I have heard people say they have an accurate rifle. What does the word accurate mean ? Is the standard a five shot group at 100 yards or is the standard 1000 yards? How ofter does the group need to be repeated to be considered accurate ? I think that I have an accurate rimfire rifle when there is no wind and the rifle will do one inch 100 yard groups. Varmint rifles 0.50 inch groups and my big game rifles one inch groups. Is there a standard for bench rest shooting ?